Why do people believe in conspiracy theories?


Conspiratorial thinking: The rise of the internet and social media have magnified unfounded "alternative versions" of events and spread them through the population. – 123rf.com

WATCHING the Jan 6 committee hearings, one could be forgiven for believing we're living in the heyday of conspiracy theories, between the Holocaust denialism of the Oath Keepers, the loony paedophilia fears of the QAnoners and the "Stop the Steal" ravings of Sidney Powell, Rudolph W. Giuliani and former President Donald Trump himself.

But don't be too sure. Conspiracy theories have a long history. They date back to the Emperor Nero and the great fire of Rome, for instance, and to the ritual murder accusations against Jews in medieval Europe. They're as American as the witchcraft trials in Salem, Massachusetts.

Subscribe or renew your subscriptions to win prizes worth up to RM68,000!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Focus

Fearless femmes get their due
The birth rate battle
Beauty queen in ‘exile’
Selling a Bohemian dream
Trump’s revenge looms
Of chilling warnings and bullets
Ocean’s bottom – in the eyes of sea lions
Iran debates whether it could make a deal with Trump
Food before flowers
China’s first-wave tycoons are retiring. Are their kids ready to step up?

Others Also Read